Duva: Kovalev To Remain as IBF's Mandatory To Hopkins

by Rick Reeno

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, advised BoxingScene.com that she was informed by the International Boxing Federation that light heavyweight contender Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19KOs) will remain as the mandatory challenger to champion Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2, 32KOs).

Hopkins was scheduled to fight Murat on July 13th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but last week the fight was canceled because Murat was unable to obtain a visa to gain entry to the United States. Earlier this week, the IBF sent out a notification that Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19KOs) was the new mandatory challenger to Hopkins.

However, Duva does confirm that negotiations are ongoing with promoter Frank Warren, who handles WBO champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0-, 12KOs). If Duva and Warren are able to reach an agreement, then Cleverly would defend his title against Kovalev in an HBO televised main fight on August 17th from the UK. And if Kovalev goes in that direction, then Murat would likely reclaim the mandatory position to Hopkins. Warren indicates that a deal for Cleverly-Kovalev is very close.

[QUOTE=MDPopescu;13487784]Kovalev is a two hands power punching mid-range hooker with an unmatched balance... He's a personification of mobile power.
I don't want to see legendary B-Hop at twilight of his career being obliterated by such a deadly punching machine.[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc90j0Iu2U1rfs4txo1_500.gif[/IMG]

[QUOTE=HeroBando;13488452]Doh. Jesus Chavez killed a guy in the ring, was he the most avoided guy around? There's a couple of fatalities every year, and none of these are inflicted by the biggest punchers in the sport. In any case, just…

[QUOTE=MDPopescu;13488401]Since Kovalev literally killed Simakov in the ring back in 2011, nobody dared to trade with this murderer and took a dive as soon as possible…[/QUOTE]
Doh. Jesus Chavez killed a guy in the ring, was he the most avoided…